Former Westfield town clerk faces multiple charges

  WESTFIELD, Maine – The former town clerk of Westfield is facing several charges, following an investigation that began in early 2006.
Lisa Lovely, 38, of Westfield, was arrested March 14 for crimes that were committed during her tenure as town clerk, between 2004 and 2005.
“Lovely was charged with aggravated forgery, felony theft, tampering with public records, receiving stolen property and theft by unauthorized taking or transfer,” said Sgt. Julie Bergan, of the Maine State Police.
    The joint investigation between the Maine State Police and Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles including the discovery of missing vehicle registration fees, missing vehicle registrations and registration decals being used by Ms. Lovely for her personal use, stated Bergan.
In addition, Lovely is alleged to have stolen approximately $20,000 while serving as Westfield’s town clerk.
Suspicions arose among townspeople when, in January 2006, the Town Office was closed to the public for over a week, with no explanation immediately provided.
Interviews with town officials later provided limited details that questions had arisen over bookkeeping and banking practices but few specifics were made available at that time.
Doug Dunbar, deputy secretary of state at the time, said at the time, “The decision to change the municipal agent was made by town officials.”
At the time, Lovely served as the municipal agent in charge of registering vehicles and other duties at the Town Office. Lovely had been relieved of those duties and Carolee Hallett was hired to perform those duties. Hallett now serves as town clerk for Westfield.
Bergan said Trooper Dan Deschaine and BMW Investigator Stephanie Beaulieu are the primary investigators on the case.
Lovely was reportedly incarcerated at the Aroostook County Jail in Houlton.
A May 9 arraignment date has been set for Caribou Superior Court for the felony charges and a June 20 date at the Presque Isle District Court for the misdemeanor charges.